Out of the Cold and Into The Heat: Holt Runs No Matter What Condition

Tuesday

Sep 19, 2006 at 3:12 AM

Tom Holt, the P.E. teacher at Chain of Lakes Elementary in Winter Haven, was the second overall finisher in last Saturday's cross country Reptile Run 5K at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland. But the 29-year-old did most of his running in a very different climate until five years ago.

Originally from Douglas, Wyo., (north of Cheyene), he was the top runner on his prep cross country team, which won three consecutive state championships.

Out of high school, Holt was recruited by Mary College in Bismark, N. D. Memories of his year there weren't to fond.

"The temperatures are just brutal up there," he said. "There were real highs and real lows. It was just miserable. The schooling was better in Wyoming, so I went back to the University of Wyoming and graduated from there. I was a walk-on on their cross country team."

So what was it like training in that type of climate?

"In North Dakota, if it was 10 below or lower, they would make us swim," Holt said. "They didn't have an indoor track at that time. We swam laps, which isn't really comparable to running. But it will still keep you in shape.

"When we ran outside, we just bundled up. It would be so cold, I'd wear a scarf over my face and socks on my hands. We would just have to run in a pack. Periodically, on our longer runs, the coach would stop, and we'd get in his 15-passenger van to sit in the heat for a while."

Summer time temperatures in North Dakota got into the 90s.

Still, when he came to Florida he had to learn to hydrate on his longer runs. His first Walt Disney World Marathon was a rude awakening.

"The first time I ran it, I pretty much seized up at 19 miles," he said. "I had to stop and drink a bunch of water. I just was not used to it."

"I love racing," Holt said. "It's just for me to get out here and have fun."

RACE SCHEDULE

September 29 and 30 - 1st ever Aching Quad; four races in 24 hours: 5K at Lake Hollingsworth at 7 p.m. on the 29th, 1 mile 7 a.m. Sept. 30 at Lake Morton, 2 mile 8:30 a.m. around Lake Hunter, and another 5K at Hollingworth at 6 p.m. Saturday; no entry fee; all races will be self-timed and there will be no awards; water and Gatorade; 863-682-6200.